July 30, 2002
2002 USA Hockey InLine National Championships Kick Off With Easton Skills Challenge
ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- The 2002 USA Hockey InLine National Championships, presented by Easton Sports, commenced today at The Cooler with the fourth annual Easton Skills Challenge. Over 120 individual skaters and goaltenders in six different age divisions competed for individual skills titles and to achieve overall accolades. Individual and overall winners were presented with prizes from Easton Sports.
"I was nervous and exited," said Brian Armstrong (Lafayette, La.) of Louisiana's Team Crunch, who earned Overall Best Skater honors in the 12-and-Under division. " I wanted to try my best and give it all I had."
"Today's skills competition was a great example of how far the inline players' individual skills have come in the last six to eight years," said Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Head Coach of the 2001 and 2002 USA Hockey InLine National Teams. "Not only are the players faster and more skilled, but the goaltending has improved immensely in all age categories, boys and girls." Brennan, who recently returned from the International Ice Hockey Federation In-Line Hockey World Championships in Germany, was on-hand at the Easton Skills Challenge to run the drills and offer tips.
In addition to the Easton Skills Challenge, today's activities included a Welcoming Party for all the teams and the Opening Ceremonies. Tomorrow marks the first day of team competition at the 2002 USA Hockey InLine National Championships, which will run through Sunday, Aug.4.
The USA Hockey InLine National Championships serve as the nation's premier youth inline hockey event. This year's tournament showcases 45 teams in six age divisions and is the culmination of 10 USA Hockey InLine Regional Championships held earlier this spring. Teams will compete for national titles in the 10-and-Under, 12-and-Under, 14-and-Under and 17-and-Under age divisions. In addition, this year's event features USA Hockey InLine's first-ever Girls' National Championships, in the 12-and-Under and 17-and-Under categories.
The tournament is being held at The Cooler for the first time in the history of the event. Statistics, real-time game results and selected web audiocasts will be available on
www.USAHockey InLine.com.
10-and-Under Division
Fastest Skater: Brandon Laffin, East Fishkill Dragons (N.Y.)
Puck Relay: Kyle Livingston, Mission Cooler Selects (Ga.)
Catch-and-Shoot: Nick Clauss, Philadelphia Flames (Pa.)
Breakaway: Logan Dunn, Sharp Shooters (Tenn.)
Overall Best Skater: Nick Clauss, Philadelphia Flames (Pa.)
Skater Runner-up: Logan Dunn, Sharp Shooters (Tenn.)
Overall Best Goalie: Taylor Tornabeane, Sharp Shooters, (Tenn.)
Goalie Runner-up: Steven Parker, Mission Cooler Selects (Ga.)
12-and-Under Division
Fastest Skater: Brian Armstrong, Team Crunch (La.)
Puck Relay: William MacDonald, Mission Cooler Selects (Ga.)
Catch-and-Shoot: Josh Whitney, Thunderblades (Fla.)
Breakaway: Brian Drawdy, Columbia Cobras (S.C.)
Overall Best Skater: Brian Armstrong, Team Crunch (La.)
Skater Runner-up: William MacDonald, Mission Cooler Selects (Ga.)
Overall Best Goalie: Kevin O'Neill, Lawncrest Lightning (Pa.)
Goalie Runner-up: Mitch Arbaugh, Crescent City Hockey League (La.)
14-and-Under Division
Fastest Skater: David Hollingshea, Cincinnati Storm (Ohio)
Puck Relay: Brian Calloway, Mad Dogs (Va.)
Catch-and-Shoot: Jason Valenza, Crescent City Hockey League (La.)
Breakaway: Brian Calloway, Mad Dogs (Va.)
Overall Best Skater: Brian Calloway, Mad Dogs (Va.)
Skater Runner-up: John Lambert, Cincinnati Storm (Ohio)
Overall Best Goalie: Attila Tassi, Mad Dogs (Va.)
Goalie Runner-up: Zach Scott, Philadelphia Flames (Pa.)
17-and-Under Division
Fastest Skater: Mike Stockmeier, Cincinnati Storm (Ohio)
Puck Relay: Jimmy Rodriguez, Polar Bears (Texas)
Catch-and-Shoot: Ed Walsh, Hockeygear.com (Conn.)
Breakaway: Jimmy Rodriguez, Polar Bears (Texas)
Overall Best Skater: Jimmy Rodriguez, Polar Bears (Texas)
Skater Runner-up: Tom Bardis, Mission Cooler Selects (Ga.)
Overall Best Goalie: Alex Longmore, Philadelphia Flames (Pa.)
Goalie Runner-up: Kyle Shepard, Crescent City Hockey League (La.)
Girls' 12-and-Under Division
Fastest Skater: Michelle Dula, Junior Panthers (Va.)
Puck Relay: Jessica Grubbs, Junior Panthers (Va.)
Catch-and-Shoot: Arlene Machado, Polar Bears (Texas)
Breakaway: Alexis Elder, Junior Panthers (Va.)
Overall Best Skater: Arlene Machado, Polar Bears (Texas)
Skater Runner-up: Michelle Dula, Junior Panthers (Va.)
Overall Best Goalie: Melissa Fletcher, Junior Panthers (Va.)
Goalie Runner-up: Brittany Kraemer, Polar Bears (Texas)
Girls' 17-and-Under Division
Fastest Skater: Patricia Hagle, Eagles (Ohio)
Puck Relay: Mariele Shoffstall, Eagles (Ohio)
Catch-and-Shoot: Mariele Shoffstall, Eagles (Ohio)
Breakaway: Jenny Tison, Lady Panthers (Va.)
Overall Best Skater: Mariele Shoffstall, Eagles (Ohio)
Skater Runner-up: Emily Bowen, Mt. Hood Thunder (Ore.)
Overall Best Goalie: Jennifer Hagle, Eagles (Ohio)
Goalie Runner-up: Cathy Petroski, Lady Panthers (Va.)
For more information, please contact:
USA Hockey Media Relations
Cassy Maxton (770) 649-6600
